Intro

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Rating Military Sexual Trauma (MST) for Military Disability

The VA uses the term Military Sexual Trauma
(MST) when referring to any sexual harassment or assault that occurs while an individual
is serving in the military. A “traumatic event” is defined as any event in
which a person experiences circumstances that conflict with their understanding
of what is right and good or which involves being forced into situations or
activities against one’s will.

Military Sexual Trauma could range from
negative treatment or attitudes relating to a person’s gender to full-on sexual
abuse, and it can happen to both men and women. It can also include being
forced into sexual situations due to threats of punishment or promises of
rewards (faster promotions, etc.).

Rating Military Sexual Trauma for Military Disability can be rather difficult and confusing. In and of itself, Military Sexual Trauma is not a
disability since it is just an event or experience, but it can potentially cause
mental or physical conditions that could develop into very serious disabilities.

Each condition caused by Military Sexual Trauma can be rated independently
as long as they are definitely separate and distinct from one another. The laws
state that a single symptom can only be rated once, so if two conditions are technically
diagnosed, but each cause similar symptoms, then only one can be rated. For
example, a person may be diagnosed with both PTSD and Depression, but since
Depression is a very common symptom of PTSD, then a rating for PTSD would
already cover the Depression. It cannot be rated by itself.

When trying to determine how to rate the
conditions caused by Military Sexual Trauma, it is standard to rate one Mental Disorder, and then
any other conditions, like STDs, that are separate and distinct. Just remember
that if a rating for one condition already covers another, then both cannot be
rated separately.